Laches had been unable to sleep recently.

He just wanted to hear Leperentia’s story directly.

But she only poured out her bitterness.

Laches kept bothering him. Why did she only think it was a good memory?

He needed to apologize, but now she was not Leperentia but a maid in the North, so he had nothing to say.

As he struggled to choose his words of apology, sleepless nights grew longer, and days passed.

When he didn’t know what to do, the woman came first.

It was always like that. She came first, always came into view first, and then everything seemed to be resolved.

And just when he thought everything was going well.

Suddenly.

As white as snow, her fair skin turned red. Laches felt like everything he saw at that moment was like a fantasy.

Instantly, it felt like all time had stopped. Memories of losing subordinates or comrades in battle with the demons came to mind, and Laches’ body reacted first.

“What is this now…?”

Even just touching it, it felt like her thin, delicate arms might break, but she was managing the flowing blood.

“Should’ve said it hurts if it hurts.”

If you say it hurts, what will happen? Even if you ask, there won’t be an answer.

“It’s… okay.”

As if seeing through everything, the woman replied slowly.

“No need to call a doctor.”

Her usually indifferent eyes showed no emotions.

Even in moments that would surprise others, this woman had no reaction at all. It was as if everything was fine.

Suddenly, Laches remembered what the woman had said last time.

“No, Your Grace… No one hopes for Lady Leperentia’s survival.”

Her indifferent gaze, not expecting anything. Such incidents were routine, nothing surprising at all, and she appeared nonchalant.

The woman remained the same.

Have you been dying like this every time?

Unconsciously, Laches almost asked the woman. His hair had turned completely white.

What is this emotion?

“I’ve never been on death row before.”

Laches felt his heart pound, and everything in front of him seemed like the final verdict delivered to a death row inmate.

There’s nothing more I can do anyway.

“No. What does it matter if it’s been like this all along? This life is always different.”

Laches couldn’t hide his confused feelings. But when he thought differently, the situation and outcome changed. So the situation and outcome of this time could change as well.

Incurable diseases don’t usually come when you’re mentally prepared.

Even if her life in this world ends because of it, it wouldn’t be strange.

“It’s my fault.”

Laches shook his head in self-reproach.

Only Laches knew her true identity. So, he was the only one who knew that she was in pain.

He should have taken better care of her.

With a body that seemed unable to withstand the northern cold, she had gone around collecting laundry and even did the laundry herself.

This was entirely his responsibility.

“What do I want to do, anyway?”

But this woman was apologizing for dirtying her clothes.

Can you apologize for dirtying your clothes in this situation?

Laches found it difficult to understand the woman sincerely.

Even with a strong wind blowing, her delicate body seemed like it might topple over at any moment.

Laches reached out his hand first. By the time he came to his senses, he was already supporting her to prevent her from falling.

“What will happen to me if this woman dies again…”
When his thoughts reached that point, Laches suddenly hugged the woman. Although it wasn’t the first time he had hugged her, the woman’s shoulders stiffened as if she were surprised.

“Oh. The first time, I hugged her after she fainted.”

Ignoring the woman’s feeble struggles in his embrace, Laches shifted his steps.

Even when he first hugged her, she was so light that he didn’t feel any weight at all.

“Can a person be this light?” he wondered. He thought it might be because of poor diet since she arrived in the North, so he recently personally supervised the kitchen staff and changed all the servants’ meals.

However, if that were the case, she should have gained weight, but why was she still so light?

Laches felt like he could easily lift her with just one hand.

It was at this moment, when he wanted to ask her what she wanted to eat, that her strength seemed to drain from her body.

“Are you okay?”

No response.

“Lea, are you okay?”

Laches raised his voice again, it was the third time. But still, there was no response.

Soon, the hand holding the handkerchief fell to the ground.

Laches felt like the ground beneath his feet had disappeared, and he was falling.

Her face, covered in blood, was calm. There was no sign of tension as there had been a moment ago. The bloodied handkerchief she had held also fell to the ground.

“Leperentia!”

Laches unconsciously called Leperentia’s name.

It was Leperentia, not that woman.

She didn’t react even though he had suddenly called his own name. Laches’ steps quickened, and he burst into his own bedroom.

In contrast to his rough attitude, Laches gently laid Leperentia, whom he had embraced, on the bed.